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Sony: PS4 Is Not The PS3's "Successor"

The PlayStation 4 should be releasing later this year in the US, but Sony doesn't want consumers to get the wrong idea: It's not a "successor" to the PS3. Rather, it's just "an addition to the PlayStation family," which sounds logical.

In speaking to NowGamer, Sony's Middle East manager said Sony doesn't consider the PS4 to be a replacement for the PS3. He says they've enjoyed a "very positive" response in the region, and he did add that the PS4 will offer a "completely new gaming experience." He also confirmed that the PS4 will be released "in at least one region across the world during the Western holiday season this year." Presumably, that's the US date of "Holiday 2013" we've already heard about. Most are guessing October or November.

We're not really sure if this distinction means anything. Will Sony treat the PS4 a little differently if they don't consider it a true successor to the PS3? Do they expect most gamers to own both machines for a while?

Comments (22 posts)

Maybe it means the shifting of software and services focus won't be so sudden as most are used to from new console cycles. As in, we're still seeing Sony rolling forward with a bunch of high profile PS3 games. It seems to me aside from like God of War II and maybe Rogue Galaxy the PS2 ran out of quality productions pretty fast. I'd imagine that for as long as PSN and software consumption stays high on PS3, the platform will continue to exist for a long long time.

Well it's certainly not a replacement since you will need both systems to play your old and new games but this is still a weird distinction, if it's the "PS4" then it will be taken as the successor no matter what they say.

The upshot is the PS3 could enjoy a more fruitful software afterlife than even the PS2 as the console proliferates the market further while console prices go down.

This could potentially be profitably beneficial in the long run as opposed to what we all expect Microsoft to do, which is to drop 360 support like a plague infected rat.

I think this is a reflection on how the current gen still has a lot to offer to gamers, thus the PS4, although a technical advancement, will not cause the total abandonment of the PS3, since (I predict) development and purchase will continue even dufing the PS4's time.

People should think about not shelving the PS3 when the 4 hits the shores. I am sure that Sony will not abandon the 3 and will probably have exclusives for it within a 2 or maybe 3 year window. Mostly because of the large install base. I can use my PS3 not only for games but Blu-ray and movie streaming.

If Sony really didn't want PS4 to be seen as the PS3's successor then they would have done the same thing they did with the Vita and give it a new name. And even that didn't change the fact that the Vita is viewd as, for all intents an purposes, the PSP's successor.

This is mostly just PR for Sony because, of course, they still want people to buy PS3's. Sony doesn't want anyone to hold out on a PS3 purchase because the "new version" will be out soon.

I don't think this statement was even necessary. PS2 sold long and strong after PS3's launch, and PS3 DID have backwards compatibility! As long as PS3 gets a juicy price cut when PS4 launches, we can expect the same thing this go round. PS3 will have no problems hitting it's projected 10 year life.

at least one region this year?hmmmmmmmm, wonder which region that would be......?

nonsensical statement though.its not a replacement, just a addition to the family?so if its not a replacement, then that means knack, KZSF, ect, ect, will also be on the ps3 then if its not getting replaced.addition to the family my a$$!

I wouldn't be surprised if they say this to try and get people to still buy the PS3 even though PS4 is announced or even when PS4 is out, because sadly, some people will wait until they can afford the PS4 and not buy the PS3 which they could afford just because PS4 is newer, even if it takes them two or more years and instead of enjoying a previous product that is still very good, they don't.

They cannot simply change the definition of the word....It is its successor plain and simple. However I understand that what he was trying to say is the support for the PS3 will not disappear with the release of the PS4, which I don't think anyone who knows Sony would have expected anyways. That was a completely pointless interview.

I see this as a marketing reaction to "rumors" that MS will be selling a redesigned or reimagined 360 alongside the 720. Supposedly the 720 will be THE powerhouse and the 360 will become more of a Digital Media device. Or is that vice versa? Of course this is all speculation because MS has made no official announcement but just making these statements allows Sony to counter this strategy.

Sony has always supported previous generation consoles alongside of the new so I am not sure why anyone would be surprised by this.